IRC MEDIA

Another hit for local homeowners: Vero Beach water and sewer costs are rising while Florida's septic mandates bring more expenses into focus across Indian River County. Property taxes, utility rates and local budgets all come out of the same household pocket. Local elections matter — and common sense on spending matters too.

President Trump says a historic agreement with Venezuela will give the U.S. majority control over more than 65 billion barrels of proven oil reserves—a deal that could strengthen American energy security, expand supply and eventually help drive down costs for American families.

As prayers pour in for influencer “Mama-A” and her children, far less attention has centered on Landon Dunn, the 20-year-old U.S. Marine killed when a preliminary report says Rushing was driving the wrong way on I-85.

🚨 163 MISSING CHILDREN RECOVERED

Florida authorities say 163 missing children — ranging from just 2 months old to 17 years old — were recovered during a massive five-day operation led by FDLE.

America has lost a country music legend. Dolly Parton has died at 80, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of music, movies, business and generosity that touched generations.

⚡🌪️ FLORIDA WEATHER TURNED DEADLY

A South Florida mother and her 2-year-old daughter were killed by lightning as their family tried to get indoors. The little girl was a twin. Her father and twin sister survived.

Hours later, an EF-0 tornado traveled more than TWO MILES through Port St. Lucie — and the official Tornado Warning wasn't issued until after the tornado had already ended.

Florida storms can turn dangerous incredibly fast.

Would YOU know when to take shelter if your phone never warned you?

👇 What every Florida family should know.

🚨 MAXWELL LOSES AGAIN

Ghislaine Maxwell tried to use newly released Epstein files to overturn her sex trafficking conviction and 20-year sentence.

It backfired.

A federal judge rejected her claims and found that, where the new material was relevant, it did NOT exonerate Maxwell — it incriminated her or reinforced the rulings she was challenging.

Maxwell remains convicted and behind bars.

👇 Should every remaining Epstein document be released unless it would identify or harm victims?

🚨 TRUMP IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN

The Trump administration is preparing what could become the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history.

Up to 200,000 business and tourist visas could be affected as the State Department and DHS target temporary visitors who later sought to remain in the United States through asylum claims.

Losing the visitor visa does NOT automatically mean immediate deportation — but it could strip affected individuals of their B1/B2 visitor status while their cases continue.

👇 Is Trump right to close what the administration considers an immigration loophole?

Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, Florida students will receive expanded instruction on the history of communism, examining its ideology, authoritarian regimes, atrocities and impact on individual freedoms. The new standards aim to ensure students understand not only the promises of communism, but its real-world consequences.

Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers is defending his agency’s growing use of Flock license plate readers and Real Time Crime Center technology, pointing to years of successful apprehensions and the recent arrest of accused murderer Matthew Waggle. “Without Flock, I'm not standing here four days later telling you about this guy being in custody,” Flowers said Thursday.